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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 120 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  4. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  5. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  6. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  13. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. David sat on the ________________.
  16. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  17. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  18. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  19. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. I've got the luggage in my ________________.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. swing — in golf
  4. scale — for weighing
  5. trunk — of a tree
  6. bore — gave birth
  7. mug — to rob
  8. mark — a trace
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. trunk — of an elephant
  13. scale — size or range
  14. mug — a cup
  15. swing — to play on
  16. swing — music
  17. scale — in music
  18. bore — to tire
  19. mark — a grade
  20. ball — a dance
  21. mug — a face
  22. bore — to drill
  23. ball — a great time
  24. trunk — of a car

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com